Abc de Coordinacion de Corriente 1-10 PDF
Abc de Coordinacion de Corriente 1-10 PDF
Abc de Coordinacion de Corriente 1-10 PDF
The ABC’s of
Overcurrent Coordination
THOMAS P. SMITH, P.E. received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1982, and his
B.S. in Education in 1981 from the University of Nebraska. Mr. Smith has over 20 years
of electric power systems design, analysis and training experience. He began his career
in 1983 at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Omaha District as a design engineer. In
1988 Mr. Smith joined Gilbert/Commonwealth where he performed a wide variety of
power system studies for industrial and utility clients. In 1995 he began work as a private
consultant. He has designed electrical distribution systems for air separation plants built
throughout the world for Air Products and Chemicals. He annually prepares and teaches
several seminars in power systems design and analysis. Mr. Smith is a Registered
Professional Engineer in the states of Nebraska and Pennsylvania. He is a member of
the IEEE.
The material in this guide was initially developed by Mr. Smith for his power system
seminars. His design experiences were used as a foundation. He has been fortunate to
work with, and is grateful to, the many fine engineers that have shared their knowledge
and experiences with him over the years. Much of this material is not original, it can be
found in old engineering references no longer in print, rules of thumb passed down from
one engineer to another, or in various standards.
DISCLAIMER
© 2006 EPOWERENGINEERING
The ABC’s of Overcurrent Coordination
Table of Contents
Section 1 INTRODUCTION 1
Section 2 LIFE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS 2
Section 3 EQUIPMENT PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS 3
Feeders 3
Capacitors 11
Transformers 15
Motors 23
Generators 31
LV Equipment 36
MV Equipment 40
Section 4 SELECTIVITY REQUIREMENTS 44
Section 5 SETTING GUIDELINES 54
MV Motor Switchgear Feeder Unit 54
MV Motor Fused Starter Feeder Unit 56
LV Motor Power Circuit Breaker Feeder Unit 58
LV Motor MCP Starter Feeder Unit 60
LV Motor Fused Starter Feeder Unit 62
MV Generator Switchgear Feeder Unit with Voltage Controlled 51V 64
MV Generator Switchgear Feeder Unit with Voltage Restrained 51V 66
LV Generator Molded-Case Circuit Breaker or Power Circuit Breaker Feeder Unit 68
MV Transformer Switchgear Feeder Unit 70
MV Transformer Fused Switch Feeder Unit 72
MV Capacitor Switchgear Feeder Unit 74
MV Main Service Switchgear Feeder Unit 76
LV Main Service Power Circuit Breaker Feeder Unit 78
LV Main Service Molded-Case Circuit Breaker Feeder Unit 80
MV Resistor Grounded Systems 82
LV Solidly Grounded Systems 84
Section 6 STUDY PROCEDURES 86
Section 7 REFERENCES 88
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SECTION 1
INTRODUCTON
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The proper selection and coordination of protective devices is mandated in article 110.10 of the National
Electrical Code.
“The overcurrent protective devices, the total impedance, the component short-circuit
current ratings, and other characteristics of the circuit to be protected shall be selected
and coordinated to permit the circuit-protective devices used to clear a fault to do so
without extensive damage to the electrical components of the circuit. This fault shall be
assumed to be either between two or more of the circuit conductors or between any
circuit conductor and the grounding conductor or enclosing metal raceway. Listed
products applied in accordance with their listing shall be considered to meet the
requirements of this section.”
To fulfill this mandate an overcurrent coordination study is required. The electrical engineer is always
responsible for this analysis. It is an unfortunate fact of life that many times the engineer who specified
and purchased the equipment will not set the protective devices. Therefore, compromises are inevitable.
There are three fundamental aspects to overcurrent coordination that engineers should keep in mind
while selecting and setting protective devices.
x Life Safety Requirements
Life safety requirements are met if protective device pickup settings are within distribution
equipment continuous current ratings and rated short circuit test duration times. Life
safety requirements are never compromised.
x Equipment Protection Requirements
Equipment protection goals are met if overcurrent devices are set above load operating
levels and below equipment damage curves. Conductor, cable, transformer and
distribution equipment damage information is defined in applicable equipment standards.
Capacitor, motor and generator damage information is component specific, and is
normally provided by the manufacturer. Based on system operating and equipment
sizing practices equipment protection is not always possible.
x Selectivity Requirements
Selectivity goals are met if in response to a system fault or overload, the minimum area of
the distribution system is removed from service. Again, based on system operating and
equipment selection practices selectivity is not always possible.
Performing overcurrent coordination studies is a skill required of every electric power system engineer.
This document is intended as a basic guide to overcurrent coordination. There is no substitute for
experience.
It is strongly recommended that the design engineer objectively review the results of the overcurrent
coordination study. If life safety, equipment protection, or selectivity goals have not been met, determine
what could have been done differently. For instance, using switchgear equipped with power circuit
breakers instead of switchboards equipped with molded case circuit breakers. Keep in mind there are
inherent advantages and disadvantages between distribution systems and equipment. Engineers must
know and understand these differences before equipment is purchased.
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The ABC’s of Overcurrent Coordination
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SECTION 2
LIFE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
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The results of the load flow study are used to confirm minimum equipment continuous current ratings.
The results of the short circuit study are used to confirm minimum equipment interrupting and withstand
ratings. To meet life safety requirements, the results of the overcurrent coordination study must confirm
that protective device pickups are within equipment continuous current ratings, and that protective device
clearing times are within distribution equipment rated short circuit duration times, Table 1.
Table 1 – SC Duration Limits
Distribution Industry Short Circuit
Equipment Standard Test Duration Time
Panelboard UL67 3 cycles
MCC UL 845 3 cycles
Switchboard UL 891 3 cycles
LV Switchgear ANSI C37.50 30 cycles
MV Switchgear ANSI C37.010 2 seconds
Consider the distribution system shown in Fig. 1. It is common in industry to find a MV main circuit
breaker relay pickup set above the continuous current rating of the breaker, or to find a fuse sized above
the switch amp rating. This practice is commonly done for selectivity reasons. However, this practice is
misguided. It introduces a life safety problem in situations where the continuous load current is below the
protective device trip setting, but above the equipment amp rating. Even though the equipment short
circuit interrupting and withstand ratings are above fault duties, the distribution equipment is not rated to
safely operate under these conditions.
ALTERNA TE
SOURCE
LV SWG
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SECTION 3
EQUIPMENT PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS
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The ABC’s of Overcurrent Coordination
K Factors
Cable Size Air
UG Duct Direct Buried
No Conduit Conduit
< #2 AWG 0.33 0.67 1.00 1.25
#2 - 4/0 AWG 1.00 1.50 2.50 3.00
> 4/0 AWG 1.50 2.50 4.00 6.00
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The ABC’s of Overcurrent Coordination
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